PART I

ACT II

SCENE V

(Outside of NERV HQ. SHINJI and ASUKA ENTER.)

ASUKA: We've been seeing a lot of that archivist lately. Do you have any idea what could be going on, Shinji?

SHINJI: (Shrugs.) I don't know, Asuka. Maybe there is some paperwork that Miss Misato and Ritsuko still haven't turned in that needs to be archived. What do you think of him?

ASUKA: I think he is a bit absent-minded. Did you see how he wasn't paying attention when Hikari, Aida and Suzuhara were introduced to him?

SHINJI: Yeah, but in Hikari's case I think he just got confused. If he ever calls me "Shinji Hikari" when me and her are in the same place that would prove it.

ASUKA: What about him calling Suzuhara "Titania"? You can't say he was confused then.

SHINJI: (Giving a small laugh.) No, I think it is just like you said: he wasn't even paying attention… But with what Misato told us about him swearing he'd kill my father if anything happened to any of us, I wonder if there was a different subject on his mind that he wanted to talk to Misato and Ritsuko about.

ASUKA: Like he's planning a coup or something and wants to convince them to join?

SHINJI: I wouldn't say that, Asuka. Its just… I don't know.

(A moment of silence passes between the two. Thoughts of what could be going on fill their heads, but ultimately neither voice them.)

ASUKA: So… Who are you taking to the school dance, Shinji?

SHINJI: Not Mana or Mayumi, besides Kensuke's taking Mana.

ASUKA: (Flabbergasted.) A-Aida and Mana? Are you serious? (SHINJI nods and an impressed expression appears upon ASUKA's face.) Wow… Good for him!

SHINJI: What about you? Is there someone you are going with, Asuka?

ASUKA: Not Taketoki, that's for sure. I wouldn't go with that arsch mit ohren if he was the only boy in school!

SHINJI: W-Who would you go with then?

ASUKA: (Staring into SHINJI's eyes.) Someone I've known for a long time and have a strong connection with… Someone who has always been there for me just as I've always been there for him, who understands me just as I do him.

SHINJI: (Staring back into ASUKA's eyes, he smiles at her and holds out a hand. Returning the smile, ASUKA begins to reach for his hand when TOJI, HIKARI and KENSUKE ENTER. Upon seeing what is going on, a big smile appears on HIKARI's face and she cradles her face in her hands, a starry look in her eyes while KENSUKE can only smile and put his hands over his heart.)

TOJI: Hey, newlyweds! What's going on? Why are you two out so… (The realization hits him and a big grin spreads across his face.) Sorry to interrupt. The three of us were just showing up early for whenever you two get out so we could head to the movies… So, am I right that you two are going to the dance together?

SHINJI: (He takes hold of ASUKA's hand and nods to TOJI.) Yes, we are.

TOJI: Alright! One of my best friends and… Uh… (Turns to the audience.) I had no idea what to call Asuka. At that point we didn't exactly have the best relationship, understandable considering when we first met, I flashed her and that hadn't been too long ago. (A horrified expression forms upon his countenance as he realizes what he just said.) It isn't how it sounds! It was an accident! Shinji and Asuka hadn't seen each other in two years, he and Misato had invited me and Kensuke along to meet her and lets just say there was wind, slapping, a poor decision on my part and more slapping… Kensuke got it all on film… Mostly.

HIKARI: (Walks over to SHINJI and ASUKA, pulling them both into a hug.) One of your best friends and my best friend! This is so great!

KENSUKE: Alright! Me and Mana, Toji and Hikari, Shinji and Asuka! We'll be like the… (Stumped, he looks to the side for a moment before once more looking at his friends.) We'll be like some fictional group consisting of six people! We'll be like the Sinister Six!

SHINJI, ASUKA, TOJI and HIKARI: (Deadpan.) No.

KENSUKE: The Secret Six? No, wait, everyone knows who we are.

HIKARI: And it isn't like the dance is a masquerade ball, so that still doesn't work.

ASUKA: (Genuinely curious.) H-Have there been any masquerade balls around here?

HIKARI: Not since 1988.

TOJI: Okay, okay, lets get moving! Lets head to the movies! We're going to miss "Evangelism is One". (EXITS.)

KENSUKE: I still think that is a weird name for a kung fu action movie. (EXITS.)

HIKARI: (Under her breath.) We are not seeing that. (EXITS.)

SHINJI: (Smiling, he looks at ASUKA.) Masquerade balls?

ASUKA: (Smiling back, she gives him a shrug.) Think you'd be able to find me, Idiot Shinji?

SHINJI: (Laughing.) Asuka, I was always able to find you when we played hide and seek as kids. Do you really think I wouldn't be able to find you just because you are dressed fancily and wearing a mask?

ASUKA: Only one way to find out. Next time there is a masquerade ball going on in Tokyo-3…

SHINJI: (Smiling as he and ASUKA EXIT hand in hand.) Sure. Why not?

END OF PART I ACT II

NOTES

I went through a few different ideas for this one. At one point it was going to involve Conn and the Bridge Bunnies together in the archives, with Conn promising to stop calling Maya "Commander Ikari's bastard" while they searched the archives. He would have just referred to her as "First Lieutenant Ibuki", only for her to tell him to just call her by her given name, something Conn would have found strange. The next idea would have involved Misato, Ritsuko and Kaji searching NERV HQ together to see what they could find. When I finally decided on the scene, the second half would have featured the appearance of Kaworu (based on his more villainous and jerkish portrayals with some Iago and Richard III) thrown in and would not exactly have been light and happy. After the previous scene, I felt that just going light and happy would work better.

The title "Evangelism is One" was gotten from me putting "Neon Genesis Evangelion" through Google Translate. Putting titles through different languages can result in interesting outcomes.